Celebrating the Science of Sustainability

The Orlando Science Center unveiled its state-of-the-art eco-friendly HVAC system and solar panel array and launched its plan for a major lighting retrofit on June 16, 2010. These efforts are part of the Science Center’s dedication to increase energy efficiency, decrease operational costs and help serve as a community leader demonstrating the use of sustainable technologies.

This event announces the completion of the organization’s first steps towards attaining the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for its facility. Many partners contributed to the success of this effort, including the City of Orlando, Orange County, the Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs Council, Irvine Mechanical, OUC the Reliable One, the Darden Restaurant Foundation and Azur Solar USA.

In attendance were Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, City Commissioners Phil Diamond, Robert Stuart, and Patty Sheehan, Orange County Commissioners Bill Segal and Linda Stewart, OUC—The Reliable One Board President Katie Porta, Vice President of Finance for Darden Specialty Restaurant Group Renato Barbon, and Senior Vice President for Walmart Stores Joaquin Gonzalez Varela.

Varela made a check presentation of $125,000 on behalf of the Walmart Foundation. These funds will underwrite a retrofit of 3,000 of the facility’s lamps with energy-efficient technologies as well as provide community access to the Science Center through four “Walmart $5 Admission Days” over the next year.

The Science Center plans to use their facility to showcase energy efficient sustainable technologies and their impact on the environment. Educational experiences, including tours of the HVAC’s innovative chiller plant and the solar panel array, have been developed to demonstrate the science behind sustainability and its positive impact on the operations of the Science Center and the environment in general.

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER, A FLORIDA-BASED NONPROFIT CORPORATION (REGISTRATION NO. CH2342), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.